WJPA Sports

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Mike Tomlin era with the Pittsburgh Steelers is over. The longest tenured head coach in major American professional sports stepped down Tuesday after yet another quick playoff exit. The announcement came a day after the end of Tomlin’s 19th season in Pittsburgh. Tomlin won a Super Bowl and went to another during his first four seasons with the Steelers before the club settled into a familiar and frustrating pattern of solid if not always spectacular play followed by a playoff cameo that ended with the Steelers on the wrong side of a blowout. Tomlin went 193-112-2 in Pittsburgh but lost each of his last seven playoff games.

Each WPIAL basketball team plays through its section opponents twice. For the overwhelming majority of teams, tonight marks the end of the first trip through their league. Most girls teams finished their first rotation last night though Peters Township girls wrap up round one tonight at Bethel Park.

Here’s a look at Tuesday‘s action:

Girls
5A Section 4 Peters Township (2-3) visits Bethel Park, the two teams tied for the fourth and final playoff spot in the section.

Boys
6A Section 2 Canon-McMillan (1-5) sits two games out of the final playoff spot heading to Connellsville (0-6).

5A Section 3 Peters Township (4-1) is one game back of first place Thomas Jefferson (5-0). The Indians visit Bethel Park (1-4). Ringgold (2-3) hosts Trinity (1-4) tonight, the Rams currently in fifth, Trinity tied for sixth.

3A Section 2 Wash High (1-3) hosts McGuffey (1-3), a game we’ll have on WJPA-AM (1450) and online. Watch/Listen Here. The two are tied with Carlynton for the final playoff spot.

3A Section 4 Charleroi (2-2) is tied with Waynesburg (2-2) in third place, two games back of Southmoreland. The Cougars host Ligonier Valley (3-1) while the Raiders are home to Mt. Pleasant (1-3).

2A Section 1 Bentworth (4-2) sits two games back of co-leaders Jeannette and Clairton. Heading into tonight’s home game with Frazier (2-4), the Bearcats are two games ahead of the cutline for the playoffs. California (0-6) travels to Riverview (1-5).

2A Section 3 Jeff-Morgan (6-0) hosts Chartiers-Houston (6-0) with the winner taking over sole possession of first place. Fort Cherry (4-2) is alone in third place and will be home with Carmichaels (2-3), the Mikes tied with West Greene for the final playoff spot in the section.  The Pioneers travel to Beth-Center (3-3). Burgettstown (0-6) goes to Mapletown (0-6), both looking for their first section win.

1A Section 1 Avella (2-1) is in third place and is off until Thursday when the Eagles visit Summit Academy (1-2).  Avella then hosts Beaver County Christian (1-3) on Friday.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Houston Texans have secured their first road playoff win in franchise history, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6. The Texans held Pittsburgh to 175 yards of offense and scored a pair of defensive touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Houston stretched its winning streak to 10 games and advances to play New England in the division round. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud endured a shaky night, turning it over three times, though he did throw a touchdown pass to Christian Kirk. Aaron Rodgers passed for 146 yards and threw a pick-6 on what could be the final throw of his 21-year career.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Blake Lizotte is now part of the Penguins’ long-term plan. The Penguins have signed the veteran forward to a three-year contract extension. The deal carries an average annual value of $2.25 million. The 28-year-old Lizotte has been a standout on one of the NHL’s most surprising teams, scoring five goals to go with five assists in 35 games this season. Pittsburgh began the year with modest expectations but is now in the playoff mix. The Penguins have thrived with Lizotte in the lineup, boasting a 20-9-6 record when he plays.

Former Pirates pitcher Dave Giusti has died.  He died late Sunday night at the age of 86. He was a World Series champion and pitched for the Pirates from 1970-76 saving at least 20 games in four consecutive seasons from 1970-73. Giusti finished fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting in 1970, his first season pitching out of the bullpen. The right-hander made 66 appearances and had a 3.06 ERA in 103 innings, saving 26 games while walking 39 and striking out 85. Individually, his best season came in 1973, when he went 9-2 with a 2.37.